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Meet Me at Blue Hour
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind meets Past Lives in this gripping, emotional story of two childhood friends navigating the fallout of one erasing their memory of the other, from acclaimed author Sarah Suk.
Seventeen-year-old Yena Bae is spending the summer in Busan, South Korea, working at her mom’s memory-erasing clinic. She feels lost and disconnected from people, something she’s felt ever since her best friend, Lucas, moved away four years ago without a word, leaving her in limbo.
Eighteen-year-old Lucas Pak is also in Busan for the summer, visiting his grandpa, who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. But he isn’t just here for a regular visit—he’s determined to get his beloved grandpa into the new study running at the clinic, a trial program seeking to restore lost memories.
When Yena runs into Lucas again, she’s shocked to see him and even more shocked to discover that he doesn’t remember a thing about her. He’s completely erased her from his memories, and she has no idea why.
As the two reconnect, they unravel the mystery and heartache of what happened between them all those years ago—and must now reckon with whether they can forge a new beginning together.
Seventeen-year-old Yena Bae is spending the summer in Busan, South Korea, working at her mom’s memory-erasing clinic. She feels lost and disconnected from people, something she’s felt ever since her best friend, Lucas, moved away four years ago without a word, leaving her in limbo.
Eighteen-year-old Lucas Pak is also in Busan for the summer, visiting his grandpa, who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. But he isn’t just here for a regular visit—he’s determined to get his beloved grandpa into the new study running at the clinic, a trial program seeking to restore lost memories.
When Yena runs into Lucas again, she’s shocked to see him and even more shocked to discover that he doesn’t remember a thing about her. He’s completely erased her from his memories, and she has no idea why.
As the two reconnect, they unravel the mystery and heartache of what happened between them all those years ago—and must now reckon with whether they can forge a new beginning together.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2025
42 people are currently reading
9878 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Suk
4 books293 followersSarah Suk (pronounced like soup with a K) lives in Vancouver, Canada, where she writes stories and admires mountains. She is the author of young adult novels Meet Me at Blue Hour, The Space between Here & Now, and Made in Korea, as well as the co-writer of John Cho’s middle grade novel Troublemaker. When she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the water, taking film photos, or eating a bowl of bingsu. You can visit Sarah online at sarahsuk.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews
December 2, 2025
5️⃣🌟, Sci-Fi romance; somehow actually unique for once...
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
#️⃣6️⃣6️⃣2️⃣ Read & Reviewed in 2025 🧊🏔️
Date Read: Monday, December 1, 2025 ☃️🌨️
2nd read in "Its TIMEEEE!!!!! (to read more books)" December ❄️⛄
The theme of this book is just so good. It features themes of memories and amnesia. Being able to release, to create and to erase memories using — SOUNDS???? Yep, it certainly is not those books where they create an entirely different world when it comes to this book. It simply focuses on a simple hypothetical aspect and expands all parts of it.
I also really loved all of the characters in heree. Everyone is just written so beautifully and memorable. Yena and Lucas just has this perfect amount of realistic decision making that is fascinating to read. It's friends to lovers and also a book where they don't meet each other for a long period of time and then they meet again.
The creation of new memories, the memories being discovered and restoration of one's connection is the main thing here that is really unique. The new beginnings, the forgiveness — it is all found in this book. Loneliness and misery are also explained so well here and the balance between these contrasting ideas of hope and despair had so much potential and is executed perfectly.
Spice Level 🌶️: 0️⃣, (lezgo)
Vibe ☘️: Wholesome
Who'd Like This ❓👥: Ppl who want something cute and a perfect balance between lighthearted topics and dark themes.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
#️⃣6️⃣6️⃣2️⃣ Read & Reviewed in 2025 🧊🏔️
Date Read: Monday, December 1, 2025 ☃️🌨️
2nd read in "Its TIMEEEE!!!!! (to read more books)" December ❄️⛄
The theme of this book is just so good. It features themes of memories and amnesia. Being able to release, to create and to erase memories using — SOUNDS???? Yep, it certainly is not those books where they create an entirely different world when it comes to this book. It simply focuses on a simple hypothetical aspect and expands all parts of it.
I also really loved all of the characters in heree. Everyone is just written so beautifully and memorable. Yena and Lucas just has this perfect amount of realistic decision making that is fascinating to read. It's friends to lovers and also a book where they don't meet each other for a long period of time and then they meet again.
The creation of new memories, the memories being discovered and restoration of one's connection is the main thing here that is really unique. The new beginnings, the forgiveness — it is all found in this book. Loneliness and misery are also explained so well here and the balance between these contrasting ideas of hope and despair had so much potential and is executed perfectly.
Spice Level 🌶️: 0️⃣, (lezgo)
Vibe ☘️: Wholesome
Who'd Like This ❓👥: Ppl who want something cute and a perfect balance between lighthearted topics and dark themes.
April 14, 2025
Sarah Suk just comes up with the most genius and creative books ever. LIKE BEING ABLE TO ERASE MEMORIES USING SOUNDS?! LIKE HELLO!? THATS SO COOL.
I really really wanted to give this five stars just because of how much I adore The Space Between Here and Now but alas.
So to say the concept of this book is great would be an understatement. But that was far from the only great thing. The writing? beautiful. The characters? Flawless. The descriptions about food? I was salivating throughout the entire novel.
The romance was pretty cute, I love a good childhood friends to lovers and their little adventures were oh so fun to read about.
My only big complaint is that this book was missing its substance, I don’t know how to explain it but the The Space Between Here and Now was so emotional and impactful whereas this one after I finished it I could easily move on from my life.
I really really wanted to give this five stars just because of how much I adore The Space Between Here and Now but alas.
So to say the concept of this book is great would be an understatement. But that was far from the only great thing. The writing? beautiful. The characters? Flawless. The descriptions about food? I was salivating throughout the entire novel.
The romance was pretty cute, I love a good childhood friends to lovers and their little adventures were oh so fun to read about.
My only big complaint is that this book was missing its substance, I don’t know how to explain it but the The Space Between Here and Now was so emotional and impactful whereas this one after I finished it I could easily move on from my life.
December 23, 2025
ꕀ﹒🫐 〈4.5 stars 〉𖦹 ya contemporary
now playing —— everything has changed by taylor ↻
a well crafted ya book that tugs at your heartstrings! i want a peek inside of sarah suk’s brain because how does she come up with the idea of erasing one’s memories using sounds? BRILLIANT! this book is achingly beautiful, the exploration of friendships, coming of age, and second chances all tied in sooo perfectly together with it’s creative plot. i LOVE yena and lucas so much 🥹🥹 truly got me rooting for them individually and together which is all you need in a well developed story. AND the chapters in which we got objects’ point of view of their love story, LOVED IT!!
the only thing i’m conflicted with is the writing, it felt very telling and less showing which is probably why the book is pretty short with it’s straight to the point descriptions, i feel that the overarching emotional weight of the story could’ve been uplifted with more read between the lines throughout the story, BUT that does not mean that this story did not make me feel emotional because IT DID! the overall nuance of the synopsis is already emotional as it is, and sarah suk still manages to deliver the heart of the story soo well in it’s 288 pages 🤍
now playing —— everything has changed by taylor ↻
❛ It sounds like a lawn mower, the tapping of a knife against a cutting board, a popcorn machine. The waves wash in and out of the background. ❜
a well crafted ya book that tugs at your heartstrings! i want a peek inside of sarah suk’s brain because how does she come up with the idea of erasing one’s memories using sounds? BRILLIANT! this book is achingly beautiful, the exploration of friendships, coming of age, and second chances all tied in sooo perfectly together with it’s creative plot. i LOVE yena and lucas so much 🥹🥹 truly got me rooting for them individually and together which is all you need in a well developed story. AND the chapters in which we got objects’ point of view of their love story, LOVED IT!!
❛ There’s a certain loneliness that comes with being the only one who remembers something. ❜
the only thing i’m conflicted with is the writing, it felt very telling and less showing which is probably why the book is pretty short with it’s straight to the point descriptions, i feel that the overarching emotional weight of the story could’ve been uplifted with more read between the lines throughout the story, BUT that does not mean that this story did not make me feel emotional because IT DID! the overall nuance of the synopsis is already emotional as it is, and sarah suk still manages to deliver the heart of the story soo well in it’s 288 pages 🤍
April 9, 2025
"People who don’t care about you anymore shouldn’t still get to hold on to pieces of you."
Would you erase your most traumatic memory for even a moment of peace?
The whole time I read this book my face alternated between these two: 🤠🥲
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind meets Past Lives in a dual-POV YA contemporary about two friends who grew apart with the aid (or hindrance?) of memory tampering, set in South Korea. This is an excellent choice for a book club!
TW: Side character with Alzheimer's; Near-death experience (drowning); PTSD and nightmares; Grief; Chronic migraines; Panic attack (on-page)
CW: Divorced parents; Friendship breakup; Mentions of abusive relationships & death of a parent
Possibly a 4.5? I keep going back and forth. I didn't cry so I'm leaning toward the 4 for Goodreads purposes. A good cry changes everything, as you know!!
MEET ME AT BLUE HOUR is kind of about two different main themes that intersect: a friendship breakup and the significance of memory, specifically the sanctity of memory and how it shapes both us as a people and the people in our lives. We follow both leads, Yena and Lucas, in first person POV, along with snippets from the influential sounds from their past. You'll get it when you read it, I promise.
I don't want to say much about the plot because it's more emotional and impactful with this particular story, but it's definitely worth a read and then a really good long shower afterwards so you can stare at the wall and contemplate your entire existence!!
My friend AK wrote an eloquent review that is far superior to this one, so go read it here.
Rep: Korean-Canadian main character; Korean-Canadian main character with chronic migraines, PTSD, and anxiety
Thank you to Epic Reads for the copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 22, 2025
the teenage loneliness, despair, and angst are strong in this one. very justified.
also, the concept of erasing memories is perfect for scifi and horror because the world is insane and people can be the worst. see: criminal minds
but given the chance, i would love to erase the embarrassing memories of teenage me that attack me in the middle of the night.
also, the concept of erasing memories is perfect for scifi and horror because the world is insane and people can be the worst. see: criminal minds
but given the chance, i would love to erase the embarrassing memories of teenage me that attack me in the middle of the night.
January 9, 2026
Meet Me At Blue Hour features a mix of futuristic sci-fi and nostalgic tech to bring memory erasure into the spotlight with all its potential—good and bad.
This is told from first-person POV, swapping between Yena and Lucas, as well as the perspective of a sound artifact from their past. I loved this method of storytelling as we get to see the characters now, essentially strangers to each other, and their relationship as kids. It really helped to build up the characters and I loved how that connection and spark carried them through the story.
This book also showed Yena and Lucas finding the words to communicate well with their family. I appreciated their growth as they learned to put their feelings into words and the impact it had on their relationship with their families.
I found the deep dive into the ethics of memory erasure was interesting. There was dialogue around the pros and cons of messing with something like memories, the addiction to losing memories associated with guilt or sadness (i.e., not learning to cope), along with the impact it has on the people involved in the forgotten memories. It really dug into the impact it can have on families, but also the impact it can have psychologically. One point was that the body remembers, even if the brain doesn't, leading to emotional responses to triggers people don't know exist. I found this fascinating, heartbreaking, and relevant, as our society starts to really think about ethical technology.
I also felt like this book was a love letter to Korea—the history, the food, and the nostalgia of times past, but also relationships built in the present. The way Lucas and Yena traveled around made these beautiful pockets of sunshine and joy throughout a book that deals with some heavier subjects. I loved those moments so much!
Meet Me At Blue Hour was masterfully constructed. The structure of the story made this a breeze to read, while also making me think ethically and feel all the feels. Definitely going to be a book that lingers with me for a while.
Rep: Chronic headaches
TW: grief, injury detail, secondary character with Alzheimer's; mentions panic attacks, PTSD, death of a parent
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Pacing: 4.5/5
Overall: 5/5
ARC gifted by HCC Frenzy in exchange for an honest review.
This is told from first-person POV, swapping between Yena and Lucas, as well as the perspective of a sound artifact from their past. I loved this method of storytelling as we get to see the characters now, essentially strangers to each other, and their relationship as kids. It really helped to build up the characters and I loved how that connection and spark carried them through the story.
This book also showed Yena and Lucas finding the words to communicate well with their family. I appreciated their growth as they learned to put their feelings into words and the impact it had on their relationship with their families.
I found the deep dive into the ethics of memory erasure was interesting. There was dialogue around the pros and cons of messing with something like memories, the addiction to losing memories associated with guilt or sadness (i.e., not learning to cope), along with the impact it has on the people involved in the forgotten memories. It really dug into the impact it can have on families, but also the impact it can have psychologically. One point was that the body remembers, even if the brain doesn't, leading to emotional responses to triggers people don't know exist. I found this fascinating, heartbreaking, and relevant, as our society starts to really think about ethical technology.
I also felt like this book was a love letter to Korea—the history, the food, and the nostalgia of times past, but also relationships built in the present. The way Lucas and Yena traveled around made these beautiful pockets of sunshine and joy throughout a book that deals with some heavier subjects. I loved those moments so much!
Meet Me At Blue Hour was masterfully constructed. The structure of the story made this a breeze to read, while also making me think ethically and feel all the feels. Definitely going to be a book that lingers with me for a while.
Rep: Chronic headaches
TW: grief, injury detail, secondary character with Alzheimer's; mentions panic attacks, PTSD, death of a parent
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Pacing: 4.5/5
Overall: 5/5
ARC gifted by HCC Frenzy in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2025
so nostalgic (also made me miss busan terribly)
April 20, 2025
⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖
review
⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪
"It's blue hour. When the sky is most in love with itself."
-Lucas Pak
Meet Me at Blue Hour by Sarah Suk is a beautiful and atmospheric love story following Yena and Lucas. Sori Clinic utilizes sounds related to specific moments to erase memories. Four years after Yena's best friend, Lucas, walked out of her life, they met again. However, Lucas has completely erased her from his memories. He came to Sori Clinic, hoping to get waitlisted in their new program, which seeks to recover memories. His Harabeoji has Alzheimer's disease, and Lucas is desperate to find a cure. Together, Yena and Lucas collect different sounds with significant meanings in his Harabeoji's life. Along the way, they unravel the complex history of their friendship amidst the vibrant beauty of Busan.
"It's like sharing a language with someone and then one day waking up to realize you're the only one who speaks it anymore."
-Lucas Pak
I adored this novel. From start to finish, Sarah Suk's writing was immersive. The imagery she used, specifically the descriptions of different sounds, had my heart. Furthermore, the concept of memory erasure and Sori Clinic was very intriguing. The dual POV narration style in this novel was excellent. Lucas and Yena both had distinct voices. This book was skillfully written, with complex characters and relationships. The emotions Lucas and Yena experienced were vividly described. I could empathize with both characters.
"I want to say, what about our language? We had one too. Why did you erase it? Why did you leave me to speak it alone?"
-Yena Bae
The descriptions of Korea and family dynamics added a deeper layer to the overall narrative. I loved the exploration of both protagonist's relationships with their family members and how this shaped them. Specifically, Yena's relationship with her mother and Lucas' relationship with his Harabeoji were integral to this novel. Lucas' Harabeoji was filled with wisdom and love. I appreciated the interactions between the two. Consequently, the anguish and helplessness Lucas feels as his Harabeoji's memory fades is palpable.
"You've always held on to life too tightly. You'll only get broken eggs if you keep doing this. Sometimes you just have to let things be and stop trying to control everything."
-Lucas' Harabeoji
Yena and Lucas' developing relationship was sincere and sweet. Juxtaposed with scenes from their past friendship and the heartache Yena feels, this is an emotional story. Moreover, the examination of memory was thought-provoking. I pondered the significance of memory in my own life and the impact memory erasure technology could have on our society. This was an amazing read. I will read her other books in the future.
✩┄•͙✧⃝•͙┄ quotes ✩•͙͙✧⃝•͙✩
-Lucas Pak
He waited for her and every time she arrived his face would light up like it was his first time seeing her."
-Lucas Pak
"If I were to capture us in a mixtape, just as we are right now, it would sound something like this, like the summer monsoon, like his footsteps running next to mine. And it would be the most beautiful thing I've ever head."
-Yena Bae
"It's blue hour. When the sky is most in love with itself."
-Lucas Pak
Meet Me at Blue Hour by Sarah Suk is a beautiful and atmospheric love story following Yena and Lucas. Sori Clinic utilizes sounds related to specific moments to erase memories. Four years after Yena's best friend, Lucas, walked out of her life, they met again. However, Lucas has completely erased her from his memories. He came to Sori Clinic, hoping to get waitlisted in their new program, which seeks to recover memories. His Harabeoji has Alzheimer's disease, and Lucas is desperate to find a cure. Together, Yena and Lucas collect different sounds with significant meanings in his Harabeoji's life. Along the way, they unravel the complex history of their friendship amidst the vibrant beauty of Busan.
"It's like sharing a language with someone and then one day waking up to realize you're the only one who speaks it anymore."
-Lucas Pak
I adored this novel. From start to finish, Sarah Suk's writing was immersive. The imagery she used, specifically the descriptions of different sounds, had my heart. Furthermore, the concept of memory erasure and Sori Clinic was very intriguing. The dual POV narration style in this novel was excellent. Lucas and Yena both had distinct voices. This book was skillfully written, with complex characters and relationships. The emotions Lucas and Yena experienced were vividly described. I could empathize with both characters.
"I want to say, what about our language? We had one too. Why did you erase it? Why did you leave me to speak it alone?"
-Yena Bae
The descriptions of Korea and family dynamics added a deeper layer to the overall narrative. I loved the exploration of both protagonist's relationships with their family members and how this shaped them. Specifically, Yena's relationship with her mother and Lucas' relationship with his Harabeoji were integral to this novel. Lucas' Harabeoji was filled with wisdom and love. I appreciated the interactions between the two. Consequently, the anguish and helplessness Lucas feels as his Harabeoji's memory fades is palpable.
"You've always held on to life too tightly. You'll only get broken eggs if you keep doing this. Sometimes you just have to let things be and stop trying to control everything."
-Lucas' Harabeoji
Yena and Lucas' developing relationship was sincere and sweet. Juxtaposed with scenes from their past friendship and the heartache Yena feels, this is an emotional story. Moreover, the examination of memory was thought-provoking. I pondered the significance of memory in my own life and the impact memory erasure technology could have on our society. This was an amazing read. I will read her other books in the future.
✩┄•͙✧⃝•͙┄ quotes ✩•͙͙✧⃝•͙✩
-Lucas Pak
He waited for her and every time she arrived his face would light up like it was his first time seeing her."
-Lucas Pak
"If I were to capture us in a mixtape, just as we are right now, it would sound something like this, like the summer monsoon, like his footsteps running next to mine. And it would be the most beautiful thing I've ever head."
-Yena Bae
August 13, 2025
This had no business making me tear up at 6 AM 😭. I loved the characters and just the plot of this book. I’ve never read anything like it
February 23, 2025
Review: 5 Stars
What if memory erasing is a thing….?
This book truly has heart and is a nostalgic read….
It takes place in Busan, South Korea, featuring Yena, spending the summer with her mother, Dr. Bae, the founder of Sori Clinic, which is renowned for erasing memories through sound…Her mother was worried she was too carefree in life and was disinterested in anything. Ironically, she bumps into Lucas Pak, her childhood best friend who she used to crush on whom she lost touch with 4 years ago and realizes that he has completely forgotten about her. Lucas is visiting his grandfather in Busan, who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's. He has been hunting for ways to help his grandfather and finds out about Sori Clinic’s new study on recovering memories. He was hoping to enroll his grandfather there. As the study is full, Yena offers to help Lucas get a spot as she wants to help him, having known his grandfather…Will the reconnection lead to questions being answered about why Lucas’s memory of Yena is missing, or will it lead to heartache?
Told from the perspective of both Yena and Lucas with some interludes of sounds representing their relationship, which was used to take away Lucas’ memories - it makes for a very riveting read. It was so beautiful to see how Lucas and Yena's friendship came together in a medley of sounds. It is also so joyful and sad to see Lucas and Yena still gravitating to each other with the heartache of remembrance and the confusion of loss…Their together are just lovely; their romance is so sweet yet so heart-wrenching at the same time. It’s just beautiful to watch Lucas fall for Yena again.
I could not stop reading, wanting to know what happened next. The writing was so captivating…I could “hear” the sounds of the train, the clatter of the fish market, the chimes of the bamboo forest and the lapping of waves - it feels so vivid in my mind!
Yena is a relatable character; after “losing” Lucas, she was bumbling along with no direction in life, internally afraid of living for fear of facing loss…I want to hug her so badly whenever I hear how lonely she feels, especially when she comes from a divorced family where her parents never put her first. I cheered so much for her when she finally told her mum and dad how she truly felt and would set boundaries whenever they “used” her against each other. Lucas, gosh, you can’t help but love his character! Even though he has forgotten Yena, he still feels so connected to her and can’t help but care for her. His love for his grandfather is admirable!
This book also juggles the ethics of memory erasing, and the author presents it from multiple perspectives. It’s neither good nor bad, and it highlights how important memories are the consequences the people who remember have to the people who lose their memories…and the reason people choose to erase their memories rather than live with them…
This beautiful read touches on familial relationships, memory loss, mental diseases (Alzheimer's), grief and most of all, love, with some elements of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Past Lives thrown into it.
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins, for the e-ARC.
What if memory erasing is a thing….?
This book truly has heart and is a nostalgic read….
It takes place in Busan, South Korea, featuring Yena, spending the summer with her mother, Dr. Bae, the founder of Sori Clinic, which is renowned for erasing memories through sound…Her mother was worried she was too carefree in life and was disinterested in anything. Ironically, she bumps into Lucas Pak, her childhood best friend who she used to crush on whom she lost touch with 4 years ago and realizes that he has completely forgotten about her. Lucas is visiting his grandfather in Busan, who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's. He has been hunting for ways to help his grandfather and finds out about Sori Clinic’s new study on recovering memories. He was hoping to enroll his grandfather there. As the study is full, Yena offers to help Lucas get a spot as she wants to help him, having known his grandfather…Will the reconnection lead to questions being answered about why Lucas’s memory of Yena is missing, or will it lead to heartache?
Told from the perspective of both Yena and Lucas with some interludes of sounds representing their relationship, which was used to take away Lucas’ memories - it makes for a very riveting read. It was so beautiful to see how Lucas and Yena's friendship came together in a medley of sounds. It is also so joyful and sad to see Lucas and Yena still gravitating to each other with the heartache of remembrance and the confusion of loss…Their together are just lovely; their romance is so sweet yet so heart-wrenching at the same time. It’s just beautiful to watch Lucas fall for Yena again.
I could not stop reading, wanting to know what happened next. The writing was so captivating…I could “hear” the sounds of the train, the clatter of the fish market, the chimes of the bamboo forest and the lapping of waves - it feels so vivid in my mind!
Yena is a relatable character; after “losing” Lucas, she was bumbling along with no direction in life, internally afraid of living for fear of facing loss…I want to hug her so badly whenever I hear how lonely she feels, especially when she comes from a divorced family where her parents never put her first. I cheered so much for her when she finally told her mum and dad how she truly felt and would set boundaries whenever they “used” her against each other. Lucas, gosh, you can’t help but love his character! Even though he has forgotten Yena, he still feels so connected to her and can’t help but care for her. His love for his grandfather is admirable!
This book also juggles the ethics of memory erasing, and the author presents it from multiple perspectives. It’s neither good nor bad, and it highlights how important memories are the consequences the people who remember have to the people who lose their memories…and the reason people choose to erase their memories rather than live with them…
This beautiful read touches on familial relationships, memory loss, mental diseases (Alzheimer's), grief and most of all, love, with some elements of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Past Lives thrown into it.
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins, for the e-ARC.
April 7, 2025
This is my third book by Sarah Suk, and I have loved every one of them. She does such a great job balancing deep, emotional storylines and concepts with lighthearted moments and lovable characters perfect for a young adult audience. In this one as well as her last one (The Space Between Here and Now), I have LOVED how she incorporates the slighted sci fi element that make me consider what I would do in a similar scenario. I also always love her inclusion of Korean-Canadian culture that give me a glimpse into a unique perspective that I haven't read a lot of before. The one critique I have for this book is that it is on the shorter side, and it moves so quickly through the plot that I felt it skimmed over some of the emotional moments that I would have liked to spend more time in. This is definitely personal preference, but I would love to read an adult novel by this author in the future that is longer and goes deeper into the emotional moments and moral dilemmas that I have gotten glimpses of in her YA.
April 5, 2025
Thank you Colored Pages Book Tour and Harper Collins for this opportunity.
I listened to the audio via audible along with the physical.
Lucas and Yena both came to Busan for one thing that summer and ended with so much more. A true love.
First read from this author and I truly can’t wait to read more. I don’t think I’ve read a book with this setting and plot before. Sarah Suk, the author, wrote a very beautiful book filled with love, grieving, happiness, Alzheimer’s and much more in each chapter. Love the duel povs especially in a story like this. Reading how the characters find their way back to each other while having to rediscover what drifted them apart in the first place. My favorite thing was seeing their friendship/love develop from the view point of stationary items. Giving us, the readers, a captured in time by photo kind of moment. All of this really helped develop the characters and the story as a whole. Not only the growth they have with each other but within themselves and their families. They were able to communicate very well about their feelings.
I love the idea around memories but it also shows how deep within our being and our brains somethings you just can’t simply forget.
I listened to the audio via audible along with the physical.
Lucas and Yena both came to Busan for one thing that summer and ended with so much more. A true love.
First read from this author and I truly can’t wait to read more. I don’t think I’ve read a book with this setting and plot before. Sarah Suk, the author, wrote a very beautiful book filled with love, grieving, happiness, Alzheimer’s and much more in each chapter. Love the duel povs especially in a story like this. Reading how the characters find their way back to each other while having to rediscover what drifted them apart in the first place. My favorite thing was seeing their friendship/love develop from the view point of stationary items. Giving us, the readers, a captured in time by photo kind of moment. All of this really helped develop the characters and the story as a whole. Not only the growth they have with each other but within themselves and their families. They were able to communicate very well about their feelings.
I love the idea around memories but it also shows how deep within our being and our brains somethings you just can’t simply forget.
April 10, 2025
4.5*
This was such a lovely story! The story is basically a contemporary with a speculative twist- what would happen if someone erased you from their memory... and then you saw them again? Well, this is what main character Yena is facing when she spends the summer with her mom in Busan. Thing is, her mom isn't just her mom, she's the doctor behind this memory erasing business. And guess who else is in town? Yena's former bestie Lucas, who she hasn't seen in years, since he basically ghosted her. And while we're guessing stuff, guess who has no memory whatsoever of Yena's existence? Yep, the aforementioned bestie! So let's just say, the summer should be interesting!
It was a very heartfelt story, with tons of family bonds to be explored for both Yena and Lucas, as well as a lot of thought provoking talk about memory and the ethics of all of that stuff. And of course, we are taken on the journey of Yena and Lucas being re-introduced, at least for Lucas. I adored this book, and loved how much emotion there was, and how thought provoking it was, and how much character development there was.
Bottom Line: Emotional and thought provoking and full of heart. A win
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
This was such a lovely story! The story is basically a contemporary with a speculative twist- what would happen if someone erased you from their memory... and then you saw them again? Well, this is what main character Yena is facing when she spends the summer with her mom in Busan. Thing is, her mom isn't just her mom, she's the doctor behind this memory erasing business. And guess who else is in town? Yena's former bestie Lucas, who she hasn't seen in years, since he basically ghosted her. And while we're guessing stuff, guess who has no memory whatsoever of Yena's existence? Yep, the aforementioned bestie! So let's just say, the summer should be interesting!
It was a very heartfelt story, with tons of family bonds to be explored for both Yena and Lucas, as well as a lot of thought provoking talk about memory and the ethics of all of that stuff. And of course, we are taken on the journey of Yena and Lucas being re-introduced, at least for Lucas. I adored this book, and loved how much emotion there was, and how thought provoking it was, and how much character development there was.
Bottom Line: Emotional and thought provoking and full of heart. A win
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
May 4, 2025
3.5⭐
This was a very simple yet profound story. It was on the shorter side, less than 300 pages, which was a nice change for me and I read it quite quickly. The writing and story-telling felt very stripped back and on the one hand this lend itself to some beautiful pieces of prose, but at other times it made the dialogue seem too stilted and unrealistic. For example, with Yena's character, her speech was sometimes inconsistent because she would go from stating things overly literally to being more poetic. I enjoyed the twist at the end which made the story more complex then I'd originally thought, but I wished we could've had more time to explore it. Instead, we hit the big reveal and then immediately fall into the resolution without fully fleshing out the conflict. Again, I think this is where the story suffers from being too simplistic.
I will say the author did a great job of exploring the topic of memory-erasure which gave me a lot to think about and there were a few quotes/ideas that I highlighted to make sure I could find my way back to! I also loved how complicated family dynamics were explored and the confidence that this helped grow in our main characters Yena and Lucas. The food descriptions were SO GOOD and it made me wan to hop on a plane to Busan right now! Overall, there were a ton of great concepts here that I think are still worth reading about even though I wasn't always the biggest fan of the execution. Happy Reading :)
Big thank you to Harper360YA for providing me with an ARC! All thoughts/opinions are my own.
This was a very simple yet profound story. It was on the shorter side, less than 300 pages, which was a nice change for me and I read it quite quickly. The writing and story-telling felt very stripped back and on the one hand this lend itself to some beautiful pieces of prose, but at other times it made the dialogue seem too stilted and unrealistic. For example, with Yena's character, her speech was sometimes inconsistent because she would go from stating things overly literally to being more poetic. I enjoyed the twist at the end which made the story more complex then I'd originally thought, but I wished we could've had more time to explore it. Instead, we hit the big reveal and then immediately fall into the resolution without fully fleshing out the conflict. Again, I think this is where the story suffers from being too simplistic.
I will say the author did a great job of exploring the topic of memory-erasure which gave me a lot to think about and there were a few quotes/ideas that I highlighted to make sure I could find my way back to! I also loved how complicated family dynamics were explored and the confidence that this helped grow in our main characters Yena and Lucas. The food descriptions were SO GOOD and it made me wan to hop on a plane to Busan right now! Overall, there were a ton of great concepts here that I think are still worth reading about even though I wasn't always the biggest fan of the execution. Happy Reading :)
Big thank you to Harper360YA for providing me with an ARC! All thoughts/opinions are my own.
May 11, 2025
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Super interesting concept. While the characters are around 17-18 yo, this reads much more like a middle-grade novel—which left me a bit unsatisfied with the depth/pacing and hanging on for more (I want a book about memory erasure and lost love to really explore that piece by piece, and rip my heart out, y'know?). Nonetheless, happy to have read and so pleased to support a Vancouver-based author 🙌🏔🍁
Super interesting concept. While the characters are around 17-18 yo, this reads much more like a middle-grade novel—which left me a bit unsatisfied with the depth/pacing and hanging on for more (I want a book about memory erasure and lost love to really explore that piece by piece, and rip my heart out, y'know?). Nonetheless, happy to have read and so pleased to support a Vancouver-based author 🙌🏔🍁
May 28, 2025
Set in a near-distant future where one company, Yena begins a post-high-school job at her mom's company, Sori for Us, which has invented a way to erase memories via associated sounds. Yena, whose parents believe her to be driftless and unmotivated, moves to Busan where she runs into Lucas, a boy-now-young man named Lucas. He, however, has no memory of Yena. Told in dual POV between Lucas and Yena, this book explores the complex relationship we have with our memories, good and bad, wanted and unwanted, forgotten intentionally and slowly drifting from us as we age.
This book was easy to read with a really clean narrative structure despite the fact that missing memories were central to the plot. There were a few well-written moments between Lucas and Yena that were cute and quotable, but for the most part, readers will be most interested in the futuristic, yet still realistic conflict and the plot twists (which surprised me!). However, there were a few places that had me questioning the ethics of the entire business and those involved.
If you've loved sci-fi/dystopian fiction like the works of Kazuo Ishiguro, you'll enjoy this one (and question if the world comes to this, would you participate?).
This book was easy to read with a really clean narrative structure despite the fact that missing memories were central to the plot. There were a few well-written moments between Lucas and Yena that were cute and quotable, but for the most part, readers will be most interested in the futuristic, yet still realistic conflict and the plot twists (which surprised me!). However, there were a few places that had me questioning the ethics of the entire business and those involved.
If you've loved sci-fi/dystopian fiction like the works of Kazuo Ishiguro, you'll enjoy this one (and question if the world comes to this, would you participate?).
November 27, 2025
synopsis
Yena Bae is spending the summer in South Korea working at her mum’s memory-erasing clinic. Ever, since her best friend, Lucas moved away, Yena has felt disconnected from the world.
Meanwhile, Lucas Pak is back in South Korea for the summer, determined to get his grandpa into a clinical trial aimed at restoring lost memories following an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
When Yena literally runs into Lucas she discovers that he no longer remembers her. Lucas has completely erased her from his memories. As Yena and Lucas reconnect, they unravel years of distance and heartache and must decide whether they can carve out a new beginning together.
'Hi! It's me. Meet me at blue hour. You know where.'
my thoughts
It's been a hot minute since I’ve read YA. Having now become a grown adult I’m always worried books written for younger readers will lose their spark or not hit the spot anymore. Thankfully stories such as Meet Me at Blue Hour exist and keep my worries at bay.
Sarah Suk created a world in which memories can be erased and possibly restored which itself is so cool but not without controversy. This one had me thinking if I was in a position where I could erase certain memories would I? If so, what are the potential consequences of that?
One of my favourite things about this story was the combination of old and modern technology. The Sound chapters were also a personal favourite and honestly I wish we got more of them!
characters
Yena
Yena is so real for not continuing to run after that initial disastrous attempt. Suk created an internal monologue of a pretty accurate young woman, who’s just finished school and has no idea with where she wants to take her life. While this may sound like a cliché take I felt it worked well and provided multiple opportunities for personal growth. We see how Yena’s relationships with her parents change throughout and from a personal perspective this was truly heartwarming and inspiring to read.
Lucas
Poor Lucas… the guy has no memories of his best friend and thanks to the erasure technology wouldn’t even recall why. Despite this we gain insight into his conflicting thoughts regarding his relationship with Yena as well as seeking treatment for his grandfather at the Sori Clinic. It was incredibly emotional reading Lucas’ chapters and how he responded to his grandfather’s diagnosis.
summary
If it’s one thing book you need to add to your TBR make it Meet Me at Blue Hour. Please don’t dismiss this emotional, heartwarming and slightly sci-fi YA story of two friends finding their way back to each other one summer in South Korea.
Yena Bae is spending the summer in South Korea working at her mum’s memory-erasing clinic. Ever, since her best friend, Lucas moved away, Yena has felt disconnected from the world.
Meanwhile, Lucas Pak is back in South Korea for the summer, determined to get his grandpa into a clinical trial aimed at restoring lost memories following an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
When Yena literally runs into Lucas she discovers that he no longer remembers her. Lucas has completely erased her from his memories. As Yena and Lucas reconnect, they unravel years of distance and heartache and must decide whether they can carve out a new beginning together.
'Hi! It's me. Meet me at blue hour. You know where.'
my thoughts
It's been a hot minute since I’ve read YA. Having now become a grown adult I’m always worried books written for younger readers will lose their spark or not hit the spot anymore. Thankfully stories such as Meet Me at Blue Hour exist and keep my worries at bay.
Sarah Suk created a world in which memories can be erased and possibly restored which itself is so cool but not without controversy. This one had me thinking if I was in a position where I could erase certain memories would I? If so, what are the potential consequences of that?
One of my favourite things about this story was the combination of old and modern technology. The Sound chapters were also a personal favourite and honestly I wish we got more of them!
characters
Yena
Yena is so real for not continuing to run after that initial disastrous attempt. Suk created an internal monologue of a pretty accurate young woman, who’s just finished school and has no idea with where she wants to take her life. While this may sound like a cliché take I felt it worked well and provided multiple opportunities for personal growth. We see how Yena’s relationships with her parents change throughout and from a personal perspective this was truly heartwarming and inspiring to read.
Lucas
Poor Lucas… the guy has no memories of his best friend and thanks to the erasure technology wouldn’t even recall why. Despite this we gain insight into his conflicting thoughts regarding his relationship with Yena as well as seeking treatment for his grandfather at the Sori Clinic. It was incredibly emotional reading Lucas’ chapters and how he responded to his grandfather’s diagnosis.
summary
If it’s one thing book you need to add to your TBR make it Meet Me at Blue Hour. Please don’t dismiss this emotional, heartwarming and slightly sci-fi YA story of two friends finding their way back to each other one summer in South Korea.
May 1, 2025
I didn’t really know what to expect from this book, but I actually liked how the story unfolded.
I especially enjoyed the parts where it mentioned different places in Korea, particularly since I’ve visited them myself. It brought back memories of my time there, and I think it’s the perfect book for fans of Korean culture.
It’s a quick read, very fast-paced and super cute.
I especially enjoyed the parts where it mentioned different places in Korea, particularly since I’ve visited them myself. It brought back memories of my time there, and I think it’s the perfect book for fans of Korean culture.
It’s a quick read, very fast-paced and super cute.
May 28, 2025
A sweet and moving story of friendship, loss, first love, autonomy and the power of memory.
October 5, 2025
Meet Me at Blue Hour is a wonderful and heartfelt story that blends emotion with a creative sci fi twist. In a world where memory tampering is possible, two Korean Canadian teens, Yena and Lucas, reunite in Busan after years apart. Yena soon discovers Lucas had his memories of her erased. As they reconnect, the story explores grief, healing, and what it means to carry memories alone when someone else has chosen to forget.
Sarah Suk balances the emotional and speculative elements beautifully. The alternating perspectives and unique flashbacks told through the voices of inanimate objects make the story stand out a different view that I enjoyed. Parts of the story did seem a little predictable to me but overall, it was thoughtful, moving and quietly powerful. This was a great read!
Sarah Suk balances the emotional and speculative elements beautifully. The alternating perspectives and unique flashbacks told through the voices of inanimate objects make the story stand out a different view that I enjoyed. Parts of the story did seem a little predictable to me but overall, it was thoughtful, moving and quietly powerful. This was a great read!
May 10, 2025
"How does someone go from being your best friend to completely ghosting you?"
This book touched a personal cord for me; like the FMC, I had a best friend who after several years decided to cut ties without a further word, although there wasn't anything so dramatic as memory erasure involved. I've often thought how nice it would be if memory erasure was a thing, because I agree with Yena: "people who don't care about you anymore shouldn't still get to hold on to pieces of you".
Not just a moving story of two childhood friends struggling with reconnection after one has erased the other from their memories, Meet Me at Blue Hour is also a poignant exploration of grief, the relationship between parents and children, and even a social commentary on technological advances. Just because something is possible, does that mean we should do it? Are people really better off avoiding painful memories rather than working through and processing them? Even though this is a YA book, it felt like the themes explored were complex and thought-provoking enough that I would easily recommend this to any adult readers as well. Well done.
This book touched a personal cord for me; like the FMC, I had a best friend who after several years decided to cut ties without a further word, although there wasn't anything so dramatic as memory erasure involved. I've often thought how nice it would be if memory erasure was a thing, because I agree with Yena: "people who don't care about you anymore shouldn't still get to hold on to pieces of you".
Not just a moving story of two childhood friends struggling with reconnection after one has erased the other from their memories, Meet Me at Blue Hour is also a poignant exploration of grief, the relationship between parents and children, and even a social commentary on technological advances. Just because something is possible, does that mean we should do it? Are people really better off avoiding painful memories rather than working through and processing them? Even though this is a YA book, it felt like the themes explored were complex and thought-provoking enough that I would easily recommend this to any adult readers as well. Well done.
Read
November 14, 2025my little tender heart
August 28, 2025
Such a good story with great writing and a lot of double meanings. Thoroughly enjoyed.
I’m really glad it wasn’t just a concept and that there was actually a good story to go with it. 4.5 stars
I’m really glad it wasn’t just a concept and that there was actually a good story to go with it. 4.5 stars
August 8, 2024
I was already hooked when they said that Meet Me at Blue Hour was if Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind meets Past Lives. Like we already know it's gonna be a beautiful story, and it truly did not disappoint.
The summer after high school, Yena goes to Busan, South Korea to work at her mom's clinic, which erases memories through sound. She has felt lost and disconnected from everything ever since her best friend Lucas moved away without a word. Fate would have it, and she bumps into him in Busan. Lucas is visiting this summer to spend more time with his grandpa who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and he also has a plan to get him into the clinic's new memory recovery study program. Yena realizes that Lucas had his memories of her erased at her mom's clinic, but she has no idea why. As they reconnect, they find themselves being pulled towards each other again and towards answers that may be more heartaching than they remembered.
The writing of this book is so so pretty and beautiful. I love that Suk includes both Yena's and Lucas' perspectives in addition to the perspectives of the sounds that formed the mundane, but essential, parts of their relationships. Relationships between two people are just that, between them two, but it is more beautiful when this relationship has witnesses, and these sounds had accompanied Yena's and Lucas' relationship from the very beginning. The romance in this book is so top tier, I love love LOVE YA romances <3 Like catch me highlighting everything that Lucas does and says in pink.
A lot of times, we feel very disconnected from our own lives for inexplicable reasons from the past. It's like feeling a pull but not remembering or knowing what it really is. It's just there and you can't ignore it because it has such a strong effect on you. This book captures that muddy, suffocating, but also, hopeful feeling. For people who believe in past lives, reincarnation, soulmates etc., maybe when we feel pulled towards certain people, it is because we had deep connections with them in the past but forgot them during reincarnation. It is why we might feel that inexplainable pull towards some people.
Meet Me at Blue Hour guides the readers so meticulously, unraveling bits and pieces to form this heartwrenching love story. This story shines light on the inextricable relationship between memory and people, exploring the many layers that come with memory loss, identity, loneliness, grief, and most of all, love. I highly highly recommend this book!!
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books/Quill Tree Books for an e-ARC of this book!
alsoooooo . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.⋆｡°✩. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.⋆｡°✩. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.⋆｡°✩. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.⋆｡°✩
because this book is all about sounds and the collection of sounds that form memory, here are some songs that reminded me of this book <3
⋆˙⟡ love you with all my heart by crush
⟡⋆˙ tsunami by niki
⋆˙⟡ first love by hikaru utada
⟡⋆˙ love song by lana del rey
⋆˙⟡ sudden shower by eclipse
The summer after high school, Yena goes to Busan, South Korea to work at her mom's clinic, which erases memories through sound. She has felt lost and disconnected from everything ever since her best friend Lucas moved away without a word. Fate would have it, and she bumps into him in Busan. Lucas is visiting this summer to spend more time with his grandpa who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and he also has a plan to get him into the clinic's new memory recovery study program. Yena realizes that Lucas had his memories of her erased at her mom's clinic, but she has no idea why. As they reconnect, they find themselves being pulled towards each other again and towards answers that may be more heartaching than they remembered.
The writing of this book is so so pretty and beautiful. I love that Suk includes both Yena's and Lucas' perspectives in addition to the perspectives of the sounds that formed the mundane, but essential, parts of their relationships. Relationships between two people are just that, between them two, but it is more beautiful when this relationship has witnesses, and these sounds had accompanied Yena's and Lucas' relationship from the very beginning. The romance in this book is so top tier, I love love LOVE YA romances <3 Like catch me highlighting everything that Lucas does and says in pink.
A lot of times, we feel very disconnected from our own lives for inexplicable reasons from the past. It's like feeling a pull but not remembering or knowing what it really is. It's just there and you can't ignore it because it has such a strong effect on you. This book captures that muddy, suffocating, but also, hopeful feeling. For people who believe in past lives, reincarnation, soulmates etc., maybe when we feel pulled towards certain people, it is because we had deep connections with them in the past but forgot them during reincarnation. It is why we might feel that inexplainable pull towards some people.
Meet Me at Blue Hour guides the readers so meticulously, unraveling bits and pieces to form this heartwrenching love story. This story shines light on the inextricable relationship between memory and people, exploring the many layers that come with memory loss, identity, loneliness, grief, and most of all, love. I highly highly recommend this book!!
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books/Quill Tree Books for an e-ARC of this book!
alsoooooo . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.⋆｡°✩. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.⋆｡°✩. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.⋆｡°✩. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.⋆｡°✩
because this book is all about sounds and the collection of sounds that form memory, here are some songs that reminded me of this book <3
⋆˙⟡ love you with all my heart by crush
⟡⋆˙ tsunami by niki
⋆˙⟡ first love by hikaru utada
⟡⋆˙ love song by lana del rey
⋆˙⟡ sudden shower by eclipse
April 19, 2025
This was such a great read!
A story of love and memory and loss - highlighting the importance of our memories, how they make us who we are but also how important they are in connecting us to others.
Yena hasn't felt the same since her best friend Lucas moved away, now she's in Korea with her mother who doesn't seem to have the time for her and she feels disconnected from her reality. Lucas is desperately trying to find a way to help his grandfather with his Alzheimer's, to find a way to restore his memories whilst he's in Korea. When the two accidentally run into each other Yena discovers that Lucas doesn't remember who she is.
I really enjoyed this. The link between memories and sounds is so well described - the way a sound can evoke powerful memories. On top of this, the discussions on how sometimes when we think we're doing what's best for someone we love, that might not be the case. The importance of talking to our loved ones, seeing how they feel about something, getting and respecting their thoughts and opinions on things. There are so many themes discussed throughout this book and I absolutely loved it.
A story of love and memory and loss - highlighting the importance of our memories, how they make us who we are but also how important they are in connecting us to others.
Yena hasn't felt the same since her best friend Lucas moved away, now she's in Korea with her mother who doesn't seem to have the time for her and she feels disconnected from her reality. Lucas is desperately trying to find a way to help his grandfather with his Alzheimer's, to find a way to restore his memories whilst he's in Korea. When the two accidentally run into each other Yena discovers that Lucas doesn't remember who she is.
I really enjoyed this. The link between memories and sounds is so well described - the way a sound can evoke powerful memories. On top of this, the discussions on how sometimes when we think we're doing what's best for someone we love, that might not be the case. The importance of talking to our loved ones, seeing how they feel about something, getting and respecting their thoughts and opinions on things. There are so many themes discussed throughout this book and I absolutely loved it.
April 6, 2025
3.5 stars
I did enjoy the book and the ideas it brings forth about tampering with memories and what happens both to those left behind (erased from someone else's mind) as well as whether the body or subconcious remembers. The main characters were pretty solid, but felt that the ending was a bit rushed, would have loved more on memory recovery and so on
I did enjoy the book and the ideas it brings forth about tampering with memories and what happens both to those left behind (erased from someone else's mind) as well as whether the body or subconcious remembers. The main characters were pretty solid, but felt that the ending was a bit rushed, would have loved more on memory recovery and so on
May 23, 2025
haven't cried to a book in a long time, and this is what brought back those emotions
July 21, 2025
Soy lectora desde los once años. Eso quiere decir que llevo dieciséis años leyendo. Una, como lectora, por más que quiera, no puede recordar todos y cada uno de los libros que ha leído. Las historias, poco a poco, se van desvaneciendo. Pero hay libros que, aunque no recuerdes la trama con precisión, sí te dejan grabado un sentimiento. Y ese sentimiento perdura con los años. Es ahí cuando sabes que leíste algo extraordinario.
Este libro es uno de esos.
Sé que voy a recordar cómo me hizo sentir toda la vida.
Hubo muchos factores que hicieron de esta lectura una experiencia íntima para mí, y quiero compartirlos con ustedes.
Primero: está escrito de una forma tan bella y original que es imposible no engancharte. La estructura narrativa te toma por sorpresa; los narradores aportan capas profundas y nuevas perspectivas. Sara Suk quizá no sea una autora tan conocida aún, pero tiene un potencial enorme. Tiene buenas ideas, construye bien a sus personajes, crea una trama que fluye sin forzar emociones. Me encantó que el final no fuera ni completamente feliz ni completamente triste. Hay relaciones que siguen sin resolverse, heridas que aún sangran, y eso es profundamente genuino. Porque no todo tiene que estar bien para que uno se sienta bien.
Segundo: el concepto de poder borrar recuerdos me pareció fascinante. Te obliga a pensar en cosas muy profundas. Yo entiendo ese deseo de querer borrar todo rastro de alguien que te ha lastimado. Entiendo la desesperación. Pero también estoy segura de que no podría hacerlo. Entre más niegas, más crece. Entre más luchas, más odio guardas. El dolor es difícil. Devastador. Solitario. Pero si no se siente, si se reprime, te destruye.
Y me conmovió profundamente esa idea: tal vez puedes borrar el dolor de tu mente, incluso de tu corazón… pero tu cuerpo, ¿cómo olvida? El cuerpo nunca olvida. Y si se trata de una pérdida, menos aún. ¿Cómo podría el cuerpo olvidar que alguna vez fue amado?
Y eso me lleva a lo tercero que hizo que este libro se me quedara pegado al alma: Lucas Pak.
Lucas, lo que yo entiendo tu forma de afrontar la vida 🥺
Sé lo que es tener a tu persona favorita enferma.
Sé lo que es vivir un duelo a través de la necesidad de controlarlo todo. Y sé que, detrás de esa necesidad, lo que realmente habita es el miedo. Miedo a sufrir tanto que no puedas sobrevivirlo.
Creo que yo hubiera hecho exactamente lo mismo que tú.
Pero leerte me hizo recordar la importancia de agradecer los momentos que tuve… y los que aún tengo. Me hizo ver que a veces soy demasiado codiciosa con el tiempo. Siempre queriendo más, como si el amor pudiera medirse en cantidad de instantes. Pero si solo nos enfocamos en controlar cuánto dura algo, se nos escapa sin que siquiera lo hayamos vivido.
Sé que Lucas es un personaje de ficción, que no existe más allá de estas páginas.
Pero de corazón deseo que él y su abuelo encuentren paz. Que estén bien.
Así como espero que mi papá y yo también la encontremos.
Que estemos bien.
Este libro es uno de esos.
Sé que voy a recordar cómo me hizo sentir toda la vida.
Hubo muchos factores que hicieron de esta lectura una experiencia íntima para mí, y quiero compartirlos con ustedes.
Primero: está escrito de una forma tan bella y original que es imposible no engancharte. La estructura narrativa te toma por sorpresa; los narradores aportan capas profundas y nuevas perspectivas. Sara Suk quizá no sea una autora tan conocida aún, pero tiene un potencial enorme. Tiene buenas ideas, construye bien a sus personajes, crea una trama que fluye sin forzar emociones. Me encantó que el final no fuera ni completamente feliz ni completamente triste. Hay relaciones que siguen sin resolverse, heridas que aún sangran, y eso es profundamente genuino. Porque no todo tiene que estar bien para que uno se sienta bien.
Segundo: el concepto de poder borrar recuerdos me pareció fascinante. Te obliga a pensar en cosas muy profundas. Yo entiendo ese deseo de querer borrar todo rastro de alguien que te ha lastimado. Entiendo la desesperación. Pero también estoy segura de que no podría hacerlo. Entre más niegas, más crece. Entre más luchas, más odio guardas. El dolor es difícil. Devastador. Solitario. Pero si no se siente, si se reprime, te destruye.
Y me conmovió profundamente esa idea: tal vez puedes borrar el dolor de tu mente, incluso de tu corazón… pero tu cuerpo, ¿cómo olvida? El cuerpo nunca olvida. Y si se trata de una pérdida, menos aún. ¿Cómo podría el cuerpo olvidar que alguna vez fue amado?
Y eso me lleva a lo tercero que hizo que este libro se me quedara pegado al alma: Lucas Pak.
Lucas, lo que yo entiendo tu forma de afrontar la vida 🥺
Sé lo que es tener a tu persona favorita enferma.
Sé lo que es vivir un duelo a través de la necesidad de controlarlo todo. Y sé que, detrás de esa necesidad, lo que realmente habita es el miedo. Miedo a sufrir tanto que no puedas sobrevivirlo.
Creo que yo hubiera hecho exactamente lo mismo que tú.
Pero leerte me hizo recordar la importancia de agradecer los momentos que tuve… y los que aún tengo. Me hizo ver que a veces soy demasiado codiciosa con el tiempo. Siempre queriendo más, como si el amor pudiera medirse en cantidad de instantes. Pero si solo nos enfocamos en controlar cuánto dura algo, se nos escapa sin que siquiera lo hayamos vivido.
Sé que Lucas es un personaje de ficción, que no existe más allá de estas páginas.
Pero de corazón deseo que él y su abuelo encuentren paz. Que estén bien.
Así como espero que mi papá y yo también la encontremos.
Que estemos bien.
December 6, 2024
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Meet Me at Blue Hour by Sarah Suk is a first person multi-POV YA contemporary sci-fi romance exploring the price of memories set in Busan, South Korea. Newly graduated Yena Bae is spending the summer with her, a famous doctor who runs a memory clinic based on sounds (the Sori Clinic for short). When she runs into her childhood best friend and first love, Lucas, she sees her chance to rekindle their friendship only to learn that he has no idea who she is.
The technology and the structure of the novel are firmly married together. After one chapter from Yena and one chapter from Lucas, we get a chapter from the POV of one of the sounds that was used to take away Lucas’ memories. The personification of the sounds allows us to see the development of Yena and Lucas’ relationship, from when they first became friends to before Lucas disappeared, through the lens of the objects and places that helped define their relationship. Because it’s outside of Yena and Lucas’ heads and outside of the POV of their parents, it’s more the POV of an outsider looking in and observing a brief moment in time. It’s very cool and I’d be curious to read an entire book using this structure from Sarah Suk.
Lucas’ grandfather, Harabeoji, has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and has started to lose his memories. Lucas wants Harabeoji to get treatment at Dr. Bae’s clinic, treatment that Harabeoji is quite resistant to despite the promise of what Dr. Bae’s research has shown in studies. This hit me really hard as I lost my grandfather to Alzeheomer’s and I believe he would have felt exactly the same as Harabeoji: that as scary as getting older and losing your memories is, maybe there are some things we shouldn’t be tampering with. I’m fascinated by the concept of using sound to help people keep their memories or lose them, but I do agree with the book’s thesis statement that even if technology is designed to do good, people can still abuse it.
One of the things I really liked about Yena’s POV was that she referred to her father as Dad and her mother as Dr. Bae in her head. It conveys a strong distance between her and her mother that might have gotten worse since her parents’ divorce but given her mother’s work-driven habits, that distance could have always been there. I also liked how Yena is so stuck in her head because she can’t move on from the loss of Lucas but she also knows that something has to give and maybe she has to make some changes to her life.
I would recommend this to fans of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind who would love something more romance genre-leaning and those looking for a YA that explores possible technological advances in relation to memories or sounds
Meet Me at Blue Hour by Sarah Suk is a first person multi-POV YA contemporary sci-fi romance exploring the price of memories set in Busan, South Korea. Newly graduated Yena Bae is spending the summer with her, a famous doctor who runs a memory clinic based on sounds (the Sori Clinic for short). When she runs into her childhood best friend and first love, Lucas, she sees her chance to rekindle their friendship only to learn that he has no idea who she is.
The technology and the structure of the novel are firmly married together. After one chapter from Yena and one chapter from Lucas, we get a chapter from the POV of one of the sounds that was used to take away Lucas’ memories. The personification of the sounds allows us to see the development of Yena and Lucas’ relationship, from when they first became friends to before Lucas disappeared, through the lens of the objects and places that helped define their relationship. Because it’s outside of Yena and Lucas’ heads and outside of the POV of their parents, it’s more the POV of an outsider looking in and observing a brief moment in time. It’s very cool and I’d be curious to read an entire book using this structure from Sarah Suk.
Lucas’ grandfather, Harabeoji, has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and has started to lose his memories. Lucas wants Harabeoji to get treatment at Dr. Bae’s clinic, treatment that Harabeoji is quite resistant to despite the promise of what Dr. Bae’s research has shown in studies. This hit me really hard as I lost my grandfather to Alzeheomer’s and I believe he would have felt exactly the same as Harabeoji: that as scary as getting older and losing your memories is, maybe there are some things we shouldn’t be tampering with. I’m fascinated by the concept of using sound to help people keep their memories or lose them, but I do agree with the book’s thesis statement that even if technology is designed to do good, people can still abuse it.
One of the things I really liked about Yena’s POV was that she referred to her father as Dad and her mother as Dr. Bae in her head. It conveys a strong distance between her and her mother that might have gotten worse since her parents’ divorce but given her mother’s work-driven habits, that distance could have always been there. I also liked how Yena is so stuck in her head because she can’t move on from the loss of Lucas but she also knows that something has to give and maybe she has to make some changes to her life.
I would recommend this to fans of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind who would love something more romance genre-leaning and those looking for a YA that explores possible technological advances in relation to memories or sounds
June 19, 2025
Set in a today where memory erasing is possible, Yena is visiting her mom (who pioneered this and runs the clinic for it) in Busan, South Korea and working at the clinic for the summer. She has just graduated hs and is struggling to find direction - she’s been sort of adrift since her best friend Lucas moved away with his family and completely ghosted her. She finds his file at the clinic, and realizes that he had all memory of her erased. It torments her - so then imagine her surprise when she bumps into him on the street. He has no memory of her, and she has too many memories of him and who they were to each other. He is hanging around the clinic bc he wants to get his grandfather, who has Alzheimer’s into their trial to restore memories.
Yena and Lucas click and start spending more time together, but can you really be with someone who you know chose to erase you from their world? This was really good, not too long, and has a lot to discuss. For a short book, the characters and relationships were all really well developed. It would be a great hs book club choice. 4.5 ⭐️
Yena and Lucas click and start spending more time together, but can you really be with someone who you know chose to erase you from their world? This was really good, not too long, and has a lot to discuss. For a short book, the characters and relationships were all really well developed. It would be a great hs book club choice. 4.5 ⭐️
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